Guided sandhill crane hunts, duck hunts, and pheasant hunts
Now providing guided hunts in Oklahoma and Kansas!
Guided sandhill crane hunts, duck hunts, and pheasant hunts
Now providing guided hunts in Oklahoma and Kansas!
Aldo Leopold, the great American author, philosopher, conservationist and father of the United States’ wilderness systems, once wrote of sandhill cranes in his “Marshland Elegy,”
When we hear his call we hear no mere bird. We hear the trumpet in the orchestra of evolution. He is the symbol of our untamable past, of that incredible sweep of millennia which underlies and conditions the daily affairs of birds and men…
Indeed, sandhill cranes are one of the oldest known bird species living today. Sandhill crane fossils dating back to the Pliocene period (5.3-2.6 million years ago) have been found in Nebraska and Florida. For those fortunate to have heard the call of a sandhill crane, it is instantly clear the bird is a living relic of the past.
While, sandhill cranes may be ancient, they nearly became extinct during Aldo Leopold’s time, approximately 80 years ago. Much of this can be attributed to over hunting during the Great Depression. The sandhill crane is and was considered the best tasting migratory game bird (hence, the nickname “ribeye of the sky”). So, it comes as little surprise the bird was so popular among hunters during that time who were struggling to feed their families. It is estimated fewer than 1,000 sandhill cranes remained by 1940. Through careful conversation efforts and a population management plan approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the sandhill crane populations once again flourished in time. Part of this management program monitors sandhill cranes by grouping them into six populations. As of 2018, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates the population of sandhill cranes to have increased above 650,000 in the Mid-Continent population, which is where sandhills between Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and a portion of Arizona migrate to and some times reside for the winter. The Mid-Continent population is the largest of all the crane populations and is comprised of both greater and lesser sandhill cranes.
Migratory birds, including sandhill cranes, generally follow routes in a north-south direction as they migrate between nesting and wintering areas. Four major biological flyways in North America are generally recognized: Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic. The sandhill cranes that fly through Kansas and Oklahoma generally travel through the Central Flyway. As of 2018, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimated 10,639 Central Flyway hunters participated in sandhill crane hunting seasons. This was a 12% increase in participation from the previous season, so the sport is certainly on the rise. In 2017, approximately 1,800 sandhill crane permits were issued to hunters in Oklahoma and Kansas. In those two states, approximately 2,000 sandhill cranes were harvested in 2017.
Sandhill cranes average 3-4 feet in height, with a wingspan of 6 feet. They generally weigh approximately 8-12 pounds and have a lifespan between 20 and 40 years. Sandhills can travel as far as 500 miles a day to seek food. A major migratory stop for sandhills is the Great Salt Plains Lake in Oklahoma, where they roost in the evenings on winter months. In the morning, they fly to nearby corn, milo, wheat, and cotton fields in flocks of thousands. The large number of birds feeding on crops can be devastating to farmers.
Sandhill cranes are well known for their dancing skills. Courting cranes will stretch their wings, bob their heads up and down, bow, and then jump into the air, performing an eleborate dance. For these reasons, they are greatly admired by bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts.
Sandhill cranes may be the perfect bird. They are elegant to watch, a challenge to hunt due to their wariness, and delicious to eat. We hope you will join us on a hunt to enjoy this wonderful bird and testament to careful wildlife management.
The owners of Fowl Okie. They came for the tax deduction, but stayed for the love of sky meat. Shane and Kim are avid hunters and guides on crane, duck, pheasant, and quail hunts.
This veteran went from keeping Air Force birds flying high to taking out "ribeye of the sky." Tyler guides crane, pheasant, and quail hunts for Fowl Okie.
Harvests game by day, fights crime by night. Brandon is both a hunting and military veteran who guides for Fowl Okie on duck, crane, pheasant, and quail hunts.
Evan is the owner and operator of Timber Creek Lodge, the home of many Fowl Okie duck hunts. Evan is an experienced guide for duck, crane, pheasant, and quail hunts.
Fowl Okie Guided Hunts